Chapters Happy Changeling Land
Project is a go
It was looking to be yet another normal day in the hive for Queen Chrysalis. She was sitting upon her throne plotting some method to recoup from her losses in Canterlot and maybe just a bit of her time was spent on revenge fantasies centered on a purple unicorn. Her guards could tell when she was thinking about those particular fantasies because she would smile just a bit for a few moments before returning to her scowling. Luckily for Chrysalis’s mood, and likely the guard’s safety, an interruption came in the form of one of the worker drones entering the throne room.
“My Queen the cultural analysis of Equestria has finished.”
Chrysalis decided to indulge this oddity in her day as it had to be better than taunting herself with thoughts of revenge or condemning herself with hindsight. “Very well then let us see what was discovered.” The queen stood from her throne and set out toward one of the lowest levels of the hive. The worker drone and the guards falling into step alongside her.
The worker looked caught between surprise, fear, and elation that her queen was willing to check up on their results immediately even as she jogged to keep up with the longer legged queen and larger soldiers. Hopefully the results will turn up something better than their last endeavor in studying Equestrians and their society. Indeed the plan to replace chefs with changelings had failed since changelings really didn’t eat food so had no idea how to cook. Really, in hindsight that was a very bad idea from the start and was likely what had lead to the previous head researcher being replaced.
After a few minutes of traveling through various halls and down some stairs the entourage entered into what could be called a lab. Several changelings wearing lab coats could be seen working on all sorts of experiments ranging from new love extraction spells to various forms of industrial contraptions. Unknown to most but the changelings had actually been behind a lot of the scientific advancement in the non-equine world which they turned around into a profit to fund their own endeavors. Near the center of the room standing ready for the queen were two of her best researchers wearing the same lab coats as their subordinates. One of them was a greyer sleeker model of the usual changeling form and he actually was wearing some glasses as he looked over a clipboard held in the magic of his associate which was a mint green unicorn with a lyre cutie mark.
“Ah my Queen I was expecting you would want to hear about this. We have compiled our latest study into Equestria and are ready to put the results up for you to see. As you can see here…”
“Spare me the lecture, Ein. What schemes have you and your companion came up with thanks to your ‘research’? This had better be more effective than your predecessor’s was or else you’ll join him in his punishment.”
Ein cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, well you see your majesty thanks to our agents’, such as my colleague Lyra here, efforts we have found that Equestrian society is having an odd shift in behaviors. There seems to have been a rise in attendance to, and for that matter an increase in the amount of, theme parks throughout their lands.”
Lyra takes over for Ein as he clears his throat again. “From what I’ve gathered talking with others and some digging in the finance department of Canterlot this trend is likely a reaction to the stress caused by the failed invasion and a rather large boost in the economy. Lots of working ponies and their families are setting out on the weekends and going to a theme park so as to ride the rides and just have a merry old time letting their cares flow away.”
“Interesting but how does this help us exactly?” Chrysalis knew they had a point here but this duo tended to beat around the bush too much for her liking. Still, they got results where others haven’t already with their plan to set up some harvesters in the red light districts of several other countries so she couldn’t complain much.
Ein smiled as he began to elaborate on their plan. “The thing is my Queen that while they are having fun and being with their family they are emitting lots of love out into the open. We have already taken the liberty of sending out a few agents to these parks and can report that our theory holds out. They each returned well fed and with some excess to share with the hive with little effort on their part and no one being the wiser. What we recommend is making our own theme park where they can come and play with their families. If they do then we get fed by the almost metric ton and don’t have to resort to any extreme measures and they pay us for it. Even better we can demonstrate some of our technology and help stir up demand for it amongst the populace so as to make even more money.”
“This doesn’t sound much different than the plot to run those restaurants. Wouldn’t a lot of us gathered about in the open just be asking for disaster?”
Lyra nods to the queen’s question though her golden eyes twinkle in amusement. “Ah but that is the where this becomes brilliant. We hire on a few actual normal ponies or place agents like myself in key positions throughout the park. Namely any task that requires cooking and whoever will supposedly be the front pony for the operation. That way we aren’t given away by bad food and the most likely to be suspected owner will check out fine. Also we are thinking of possibly making changelings a bit of a part of the park’s attractions.”
“How so?”
“The mascot for the park will be a changeling. Admittedly a saccharine simplified version of one of us but that too serves a purpose. By playing up our kind in this way we might even be able to help break down the hatred we are currently the target of. We will have those in costume acting out silly routines for the amusement of the kids and perhaps even act as a form of stress relief for their parents to see a depiction of us acting like fools. While they are distracted by these displays we will be feasting on their emotions and biding for a time that they accept us.” Ein smiled at his queen while explaining his brilliant plan.
“So you are thinking more of a peaceful shift into coexistence still?”
“My Queen,” this shocked Chrysalis due to the statement coming from the pony, “I can assure you it will work. If you do it this way you will not only be fed but might eventually get your people accepted. When it works your children will never again have to risk their lives posing as someone else just to eat. This is the best course for us all, pony and changeling alike.”
Chrysalis wanted to gore the unicorn for her presumption but stopped and really gave their plan some thoughts. If nothing else it would be an amusing diversion and she recalled having some luck in the past sending out changelings posing as gypsies and having their caravans wander about entertaining others. Perhaps there was some merit to this idea after all. “Very well however I want you to start out small. Let’s have a trial run on the scale of a festival and see what we get.”
The scientific duo answered their queen in stereo, “At once your majesty.”
Author's Note
Heh, figured I would put in a swing at the EQD flash fic event. Uhm.. yeah this is going to be multiple chapters because honestly I see a good cut off here and at least one more yet. Sorry to anyone expecting an update on the other fic but I want to get this done in time for the event.
Happy Changeling Land
Not far outside the outskirts of Ponyville one could find what appeared to be a carnival being set up. It wasn’t overly large but it looked to be interesting at least to the locals. The usual garish colors of a carnival called out to the residents who had been experiencing a rather rough week involving some fires and at least two hydra sightings by the flower trio. While the stands were being set up a few residents came to view what was going on with some interest. They could see this would be an odd carnival from the start judging by the fact that some of the art depicted an overly cute changeling snuggling an oversized heart and while this caused some to complain most found it cute. It might have helped that the changeling depicted seemed to be a little slow if the artwork was to be believed due to it hugging the heart while standing on a railroad track in between the two crossing posts that had lowered.
Mayor Mare had signed off on allowing the carnival after meeting with the carnival boss who had approached her offering to let five percent of the gate go to the town if they could set up there. The carnival leader was a magenta eyed pegasus with silver hair and white coat who went by the name of Snow Cream. Lyra, who happened to be visiting town hall at the time to refile a permit to play in public, had mentioned that it sounded like a lovely idea given the stress levels in town which helped to seal the deal for the mayor since she could hardly say no to more income for the constantly destroyed little town. The mayor was a bit wary though as the carnival had asked to set up during a weekend when the Elements of Harmony would be visiting Canterlot to address some issues its members had so she hoped there wouldn’t be trouble.
As Friday that week rolled around the carnival opened up in full swing around noon with all the usual lights and overly expensive fare one would expect. That first evening a few of the younger and more adventurous members of town set hoof onto the carnival grounds. Those who did were charmed by the rides this carnival had set up for they were something new to most of them. Not a lot of Ponyville’s residents had ever seen a roller coaster so were not let down by the kiddy size it had nor had they ever even heard of a bumper cart before. The few citizens who had money to burn and had visited the larger theme parks before recognized the devices but they were more captivated by the presence of various games of all sorts for everyone to play.
All throughout the carnival grounds various ponies were hawking their stand's wares, games, or tickets for the rides but were not Flim and Flam levels of obnoxious about it. This scene was beautiful to young Snow Cream who was still gushing to the two who had made it all possible. “Thank you Mister Ein and Miss Gold, I thank you for putting me in charge.”
Miss Gold, an older earth pony with green hair and a black coat smiled while she observed the children playing some game involving darts and balloons, nodded her head. “You are welcome Snow. Of all the ponies who signed on to work with our project you seemed to be the most gifted with natural leadership potential. Also I will admit I somewhat pushed for you to win because I rather liked your trademark dish.”
Ein, a unicorn stallion with a grey coat and currently rolling blue eyes, chuckled. “No worries my dear. You just let us know if anything goes wrong. If this all works out we will be setting this up with a more permanent location and much larger attractions and you will be our go to mare for overseeing the investment. That way we can sit back in our retirement content in our vision living on.”
“Thank you both again.” Snow waved to the couple as they began to walk away and returned to running her own booth that sold ice cream and the newest novelty from Cloudsdale which just so happened to be snow cream. She lost track of the couple after a few moments due to hyper children including three very distinct young trouble makers.
Stepping around behind a tunnel of love the couple turned to each other with the stallion grinning and the mare having something of a put upon look on her face. “Okay, Ein, it looks like your plan is working at least on the children. That isn’t going to help us enough so I hope this pans out.”
“Worry not my Queen it will. Tonight the young will gallivant around and tomorrow all their older siblings will hear about the fun and attractions and come. Also some parents will come again with their kids to make sure they don’t consume as much sugar and that their older children don’t do anything on any dates that might be held here.” Ein reassured his queen while watching a small grayish/violet unicorn filly struggle to toss darts at some balloons while her mother, a grey pegasus, cheered her on. “Also, tell me you don’t feel the love and the best part is to come.”
As Ein finished wrapping up his reassurance out walked, or rather stumbled, the carnival’s mascot. It was an overly large affair of a costume that was made to appear not only cute with its depiction of a slightly loopy changeling with oversized eyes and a cute cat like grin but comically disproportionate all around so whoever wore it would have trouble moving around. This way they couldn’t help but contribute to the intended image of incompetence so as to relieve tensions. The pony wearing however was paid a significant wage as there was a risk for him being attacked due to the current changeling paranoia and rage. Thankfully for the daring individual wearing the costume he wasn’t assaulted but he did have to deal with being laughed at all night. On the other hand the mascot did a very good job of bungling around and playing according to his script of pretending to follow ponies having fun only to walk into objects or get distracted by balloons or butterflies.
As that night drew to a close and the carnival shut down in the wee hours of the morning Chrysalis, who had been posing as Gold, took stock through the hive mind of how her children had made out on their first day. Not only did they all report having managed to feed themselves well but that their sales had collectively already made back a third of the investment into this endeavor even including the paying of pony employees. As such she told them to continue with the plan and see how it turned out.
The next day played out just as Ein had predicted with only a single incident when Lyra got into a fight with her date, an earth pony named Bon Bon, in the tunnel of love ride over her long trips away from town. There was almost another one however when two children, who if Chrysalis were to guess were some rich person’s kids, started to assault the mascot but they were dealt with quickly and directly by Snow Cream’s intervention. It would seem hiring the sweets maker had extra benefits in that she was one of those ponies foals just felt compelled to listen to. Chrysalis made a note to have her scientists subtly study how Snow did it in case that too might come in handy in the future. If this worked why not set up changeling ran day cares or something was her reasoning. Occasionally a pony or two would leave after staying only for a time thinking they had worn themselves out not realizing they had been perhaps overly fed upon.
The final day went by without any incidents at all with increased attendance and thus more profits for the hive in both food and money. All told Chrysalis had found this whole thing to be worth their time. As the carnival was being broken down Chrysalis, in the guise of Miss Gold, turned to Ein. “Ein, you did well. I’m going to go ahead and set things in motion. You get Snow prepped for running the show as our front pony. I’ll arrange for us a location.”
Chrysalis managed to buy some land not far from Baltimare and sent some of the hive’s best construction drones to begin building a theme park not a week later. She was still amazed at how playing on pony kind’s desire to feel safe lead to them accepting the bumbling changeling image and their desire for distraction had led to their actual distraction from noticing they were feeding changelings. Chrysalis was smiling as she watched the much larger rides and attractions being put together dreaming of food for her subjects and pulling it all off under the nose of the Equestrians.
Author's Note
Well here is chapter 2. I am surprised at how long this chapter was and I didn't even address how kooky I wanted some things to be. I'm trying to be original with the OC's but that is hard at times. I'm not the most creative when it comes to coat and mane colors.
Land of Happy Changelings
Happy Changeling Land
Six months was the projection for the debut of the hive’s project and those months were spent mostly in further testing. The little changeling themed carnival had made its rounds throughout Equestria and even had a short stop in the griffon lands for a week that was rather lucrative on all fronts. Part of the carnival’s continued success and evasion of detection lay in the fact that Snow had cooked up her own idea to promote it. While leading the carnival caravan she had noticed a wagon on the trail that happened to house a rather talented illusionist and pyrotechnics specialist. She had decided to hire on this blue mare to help spice up the carnival and the new nightly fireworks and illusion bungling changelings helped to draw in the crowds and insure the authorities stopped listening to the occasional claim of seeing a real changeling at the carnivals. Thanks to the continued success and what amounted to advertisement the theme park was looking to see a very good return on investment.
“It would seem we chose a good carnival head, Ein.” Chrysalis smiled at her scientist as they walked into the soon to be open theme park once again in the guise of Miss Gold while Ein was reprising his earlier appearance as well.
“We can thank Lyra for finding her honestly. She was the one who recommended the front pony. Now then, my Queen, shall we meet with our front mare and commence the day?” Thankfully for the good doctor’s continued health they had already slipped inside past the horde of waiting customers.
The queen nodded as they stepped up to a small trailer hidden behind some of the signage for the theme park and slipped inside. Inside Snow Cream was working on finishing up some paperwork for a few new illusionist hires to handle the tricks Trixie had developed for them on the road. Thankfully in all this time their front mare had yet to realize she had real changelings making up almost two thirds of her employees and still seemed to be unaware of this fact.
“Ah Miss Gold and Mister Ein so good to see you two again. Have you come here to observe opening day? Our projections are that we will more than make up most of the costs of building some of the rides within the month.” Snow kindly smiled at the two once she looked up to see who had entered her office.
“No need to fret now Snow. We knew this would turn out well after the first carnival and never had any doubt in your ability to keep it profitable and functioning. A better question would be are you ready? I’m afraid you’ll be trampled when they come rushing in.” Ein chuckled in greeting.
“That is why I’m having security open the gates.” Snow laughed in return. “Ah, speaking of opening it should happen right about now.” She indicated the clock near the door that informed them that it was 9 A.M. on the dot.
“Then let’s step outside and see the masses start to have fun.” Chrysalis stepped back to the door with an inviting wave of a hoof. “I want to see their happy faces as they enjoy themselves.”
The trio stepped outside passing the signs to watch as the gates opened and several families begin to buy tickets and enter the park. The smile on both of the changelings faces begin to become more genuine and less part of the masquerade as ponies set hoof inside and begin to have fun. Snow’s own smile spread for far more benign purposes of course in the fact that she was helping to break down the stress other ponies were suffering from.
“I see we should bid you adieu, Snow. With this kind of crowd and the weather overhead you are likely to have customers wanting some frozen treats soon.” Chrysalis told her pony representative. The pegasus nodded and flapped off toward her own stand. She could have passed the job off to one of the employees but she had insisted on running her own stand so as to personally interact with the customers and keep an eye on the quality of her treats.
“So Ein, this looks to be a success. What reward was it you wanted for this plan?” Chrysalis asked her scientist as they set on the path out an employee exit from the park.
“More funding for our science department. We are almost on the breakthrough to create a synthetic chitin for damaged soldiers. I live to serve after all.”
“Very well then good doctor we will see that you have it. Lyra had only requested life time passes to the park for some strange reason.”
Ein chuckled in response as they stepped out of the park. “She is a strange mare, my Queen. Always was even when I found her as a foal. She is probably just going to use it to have fun with her marefriend.”
“Then let us return Ein. There is much to do and this success has given me other ideas. Do we have any particularly gifted writers loyal to us?” Queen Chrysalis asked as the two begin to walk away from the completed park toward the badlands. Once they got far enough away to not be seen the two would shift into pegasi and then fly out closer to the hive before returning to their natural appearance.
In the coming months the park would go on to continue being a success for the hive and every day Chrysalis got just a bit more joy out of seeing her children fed and the hive gaining some funds. By the end of the first year the park had only had two incidents with accusations of real changelings being there that were responded to and only one turned out to be true. Even this had entertained Chrysalis as the changeling that was caught was a rogue changeling who had severed its connection to the hive years ago. The ponies were doing her job for her it would seem as she had never particularly tolerated those who left on their own initiative.
In the end Chrysalis would remember this as the plan that had brought her people one step closer to acceptance by the equines and had fed them the most. In fact, once the Chrystal Empire’s Crystal Heart began to function it was just icing on her cake. She would never need fear seeing any of her children starving again or at least not for a good long while. As she lounged on her throne thinking happy thoughts about the success of the plan and the unfurling of yet more to bridge some gaps she herself had helped create with that failed invasion she remembered one thing that would make her happier. Perhaps it was time to revisit those plans for revenge on that purple unicorn though this time she might settle for merely being annoying. Sadly that would be much easier if only Twilight had some sort of official position.
“My Queen, there is a green unicorn pony here to see you.” A worker drone had stepped into Chrysalis’ throne room to relay her message.
“Oh? Send her up. She most likely brings us some information of use.” Chrysalis sat up in her throne with happy thoughts of vengeance while waiting to hear what her agent had to tell her.
“My Queen, I have some interesting information for you.” Lyra began as she walked through the door. “Wait till you learn what happened in Ponyville last night and Canterlot today.”
As Lyra begin to fill Chrysalis in on what was happening she observed the queen’s grin growing larger by the minute.
“Oh... this information will be delightfully useful. Guards, ready a chariot. I have a visit to arrange with a new regent. This is going to be perfect.”
Author's Note
Yes, that is a possible sequel hook. I'm thinking of using this to a lead in on another project. We'll see if they get put together in the same continuity. If I wind up doing that I'll have to add the au tag to this though. Thanks for reading everyone.